Valve for hydraulic elevators



(No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

l G. H. REYNOLDS* VALVE POR HYDRAULIC BLEVATORS, &o.

N0. 314,720. Patented Mar. 31, V1885.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. REYNOLDS. VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC BLEVATORS, &o. No. 314,720.

Patented Ma1.3l,1885.

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(No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. H. REYNOLDS. VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS, 65o. No. 314,720. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

.A www@ operator in the elevator car or cab.

, UNITED STATES PAIENI @ERIEEo GEORGE I-I. REYNOLDS, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNOR OE ONE-HALE 'ro' ORANE BROTHERS MANUFACTURING OOMPANY, OE cHIcAGo, ILLINOIS.

VALVE rou HYoRAumc Lr-:vArOR-s, ew.;

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 314,720, March 3l, 18525.

Application filed November 6, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern: l

Be it known Vthat I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, of the cit-y and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves for Hydraulic Elevators and other Ihirposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to a valve for controlling the supply of water under pressure to the operating-cylinder of a hydraulic elevator to produce the rising Inovenient ofthe elevator car, cab. or platform, and the exhaust or discharge of water from such operatiIig-cylinder to permit the descent of the car, cab. or platform; but the invention is also applicable lor controlling the flow ofliquid to and from the cylinders ot' other machines comprising pistons or rams which are operated by the pressure ot' liquid.

The invention relates to a valve which is moved bythe pressure of water or other liquid acting upon it and upon a controlling piston or` pistons with which the said valve is combined, the pressure of water upon the controlling piston or pistons being controlled by an auxiliary or pilot valve, which may beshil'tcd directly and with small force by the By the admission ot' water under pressure to act upon said controlling pistonor pistons or the release ot' water which has acted upon said piston or` pistons the auxiliary valve indirectly produces the movement of' the main valve.

In order to enable my invention to be more easily understood, I will first brielly describe an apparatus which embodies all the features of my invention in a very desirable and effective form.

The valve which I now prefer to employ is a piston-valve movable lengthwise in a cylinder or casing, and having combined with it and secured rigidly upon the same rod two controlling-pistonsone each side ofthe valve. One controlling-piston is or may be ofthe same or about thesaine size as the valve, and this I shall hereinafter term the larger controllingpiston. rIlhe other controlling-piston is of a size or area` smaller than the main valve, and this I shall hereinafter term thc smaller controlling-piston.77 The main valve andthe two controlling-pistons, rigidly connected and movable together, as described, are arranged in three cylinders, which are in line and are or may be constructed in the saine casting or casing. In this casing is an annular belthaving a side opening or throat, which is to be connected with the operating-cylinder and communicating with the interior oi' the cylinder by a circular series of openings, fornuing a port over which the main valve may 6o be moved to one or other side thereof', and which will he entirely covered or closed by the main valve when shifted to an intermediate position. vrIhe main valve may consist of a single piston of a length suficientto cover the said port. or of two piston-heads placed at such a distance apart as to cover or straddle the said port when brought to an intermediate position. This port I may term the working-port, inasmuch as through it 7o water passes under pressure to the operatingcylinder, or from the opcratingcylinder to the discharge. 0n one side of the working-port, and between itand the smaller controllingcylinder, the easing is constructed with a supplybelt having a laterally-presented throat or nozzle, to which the supply-pipe is connected, and consequently the t'ull workingpressure always arts in opposite directions on the piston-valve and smaller coutrolling- 8O piston. On the otherside of the working-port and between it and the larger controllingcylinder is a discharge-belt having a laterallypresented throat or nozzle, with which the discharge-pipe is to be connected and which communicates with the atmosphere, and consequently the main valve and the larger con,- trolling-piston on their adjacent sides are virtually as free from pressure as if acted ou only by the atmosphere. In a valve-chest upon 9o the larger controllilig-cylinder is an auxiliary or pilot valve, which may consist of a simple slide-valve, and in the chest is the full working-pressure of water, which may be supplied theretobyapipefrom thesupply-belt betorereferred to. From the outer endottho larger con.- trolling-cylinder ports or passages lead to the valve-chest, and iu the auxiliary valve is a cove or passage, which, when the valve is moved to the proper position, places the said ports or IOO passages in communication and allows the water in the outer end of the larger controllingcylinder to escape into the discharge-space or to the atmosphere, thereby freeing the larger controlling-piston'entirely from pressure on either side thereof. Vh'en the auxiliary valve is moved to expose the port which leads from' The devices through which the operation of the elevator is controlled from the car or cab are connected with the auxiliary valve, and said valve is also preferably connected with and'operated automatically by the moving pistons and main valve before described.

The operation of the parts above described is very simple. Suppose, for example, that the main valve is in its intermediate position covering the working-port, and that it is desired to have the elevator car or cab ascend. The auxiliary valve is shifted by the operator so as to place the outer end of the larger controlling-cylinder in communication withr the discharge, thereby freeing t'he larger controlling-piston entirely of pressure. This being done'the pressure on the main valve overbalances the pressure on the smaller controlling-piston and the main valve is moved so as to open the working-port to the water-supply and thereby to admit water to the operatingcylinder. During'such movement of the main valve and pistons the auxiliary valve is moved automatically in the reverse direction, and by the time the main valve has moved to the position described the auxiliary valve has cut od communication between the outer end of the larger controlling-cylinder and the ydischarge, and the main valve and pistons come to a standstill, with the full working-pressure on `the operating-cylinder. When it is desired to stop the car and descend, the auxiliary valve is moved so as to admit water from its'chest to the-outer end of the larger controlling-cylinder.l The pressure in one direction on the larger controlling-piston now counterbalances the pressure in the reverse direction on the main valve, and the pressure on the smaller controlling-piston being unbalanced the latter will produce the movement of the main valve and` pistons in a direction to cut off communication between the supply and the working port and establish communication between the working-port and the dischargespace, whereupon the car or cab will descend. The invention consists in novel com binations of parts and details of construction, hereinafter described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal central section of an apparatus of the kind above described, all parts'being shown in their central position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the auxiliary valve adjusted to place the outer end of t-he larger controlling-cylinder in communication with the discharge. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the auxiliary valve adjusted to admit the full working-pressure to act on the outer end of the larger controlling-piston. Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus 'corresponding to Fig. l. Fig. 5 is an'end elevation looking from the right hand of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is atransverse section on the plane of the dotted line at x, Fig. l; and Fig. 7 is Aa partial transverse section on the plane of the dotted line y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the cylinder forthe main valve.

B designates the larger controlling-cylinder at one end thereof, and Gdesignates thesmaller controlling-cylinder at the other end thereof.

All these cylinders are in line, and as here shown are formedrintegral with each other, all being constructed in the` saine cast-metal casing.

D D designate the two piston-heads which constitute the main valve, and rigidly connected with and movable with the said main valve area larger controlling-piston, E, fitting the cylinder B, and a smaller controlling-piston, F, fitting the cylinder C. The main valve D and pistons E F are constructed and connected in a novel and simple manner. (Shown clearly in Fig. l.)

G designates a rod or bolt provided at one end with a shoulder or head, a, and at the other end with a nut, a. Thepis'ton-heads D of the main valve are each composed of two disks or plates, b c, and an interposed leather or other packing, p. The larger controllingpiston E is composed of two disks or heads, c d, and an interposed leather or other suitable packing, p, and the smaller controllingpiston F is composed of two disks or heads, t2 et, and an interposed packing, p2. The disks or plates b ofthe main valve D are connected by and cast integral with a sleeve or tubular stretcher, b', the disks c c are connected by a similar sleeve, c3, and the disks c 0 2 are connected by a similar sleeve, c4. In assembling these parts they are lall strung or placed on the rod G in proper order, and the nut a is then screwed up to tighten and hold them all in' place. As here shown, the smaller controlling-cylinder C is provided with a lining, e, of brass to prevent corrosion, and the valvecylinder A and larger controlling-cylinder are likewise provided with linings a bwhich, as here shown, are made 1n one piece, the two cylinders being of equal size.

Between the main-valve cylinder A and smaller controlling-cylinder G the met-al casing is constructed with an annular belt or enlargement, A', from which leads a side opening or throat, A2, with which a supply-pipe is to be directly connected. Consequently, it will be understood thatthe water-pressure is continually acting on the right-hand end of' the main valve D and the left-hand end of the smaller controlling-piston F.

At about the middle of the length of the IOO IlOV

lnainevalve cylinder A the casing is constructed with a belt, A3, having an opening or nozzle, A, here ,shown as presented downward and communicating with the valve-cylinder A by a circular series of openings, f, in the lining c2. The nozzle A4 is to be connected wit-hthe operating-cylinder of the elevator, (not here shown,) and through the port formed by the openings f the water passes either to or from the operating-cylinder, according to the position ofthe main valve D. The portf I term the working-port or valve-port.

Between the port f and the large controlling-cylinder B the casing is constructed with a discharge-belt, A5, having a laterallyprcsented nozzle or opening, A, with which is to be connected the discharge -\pipe, tltrough which. the water is discharged freely to the atmosphere or to the suction of a pump, and consequently it will be understood that there is no pressure exerted on the lefthand end ot the main valve D or on the right-hand or inner side of the larger controlling-piston Il. rlhe belt A5 is in free communication through Aopenings g in the linings a2 b with the space between the valve D and piston E; but, it' desired, the two linings might be separate and a space left between them.

On the larger controllingcylinder B is an auxiliary valve-chest, B', wherein is arranged an auxiliary or pilot valve, H, operated by a rod, H, which extends through a stutling-box, h, in the end of the chest B. As here shown, the valveH consists ot' a simple slide working on` the seat h, and having in its under side' a cove or passage, h2.

Freni the outer end of the controlling-cyl inder B a port or passage, t', extends to the valveseat It', and from said seat a second port or passage, t', extends to the dischargespace A5 or to the atmosphere, which is practically the same thing. v

The valve-chest B is supplied with water ofthe same working-pressure as that which is in t-he supplyspaee A', in any suitable manner. A s here shown, a ppe,j, extends external to the casing from the supply-space A to the side of the projection on the cylinder B, on which the chest B is secured, as is best shown in Figs. 4:, 5, and 7. The pipej communicates with a passage, j', cored in the easing, as shown in Fig. 7, andthe water there from enters the valve-chest B, and is supplied constantly thereto when the port t is uncovered. The pipe] might be introduced directly into the chest B; but the plan here shown ,is preferable, because the chest B may then be taken oft without disconnecting or disturbing the pipej. by the passage ot' water through it may be controlled. l

It is not necessary that the water supplied to the chest B be of exactly the same pressure as that supplied to the space A, but that plan is preierable, as then the pressure on the 0n the pipej is a valve, jwherei actly counterbalance the pressure on the main valve D toward the left hand.

In Fig. l the auxiliary valve H is shown in its intermediate position; butl have shown it in Fig. 2 as shifted to place the ports or passages t t" in communication through the passage with the discharge-space A5, thus providing for the free exhaust into the dischargespace A of the water in the larger controlling-` cylinder B on the outer side of the piston E.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the auxiliary valve H as shifted to uncover the port and to permit the passage of water from the valve-chest Binto the outer end ot' the larger controllingcylinder B under i'ull supply pressure. Of course speed ot' movement of theinain valve will vary according to the rapidity ot' flow of the water through the port t from the chest B, or through the ports 'i 1l t0 the dischargespace A5. The llow ot' water under pressure into and through the port z' may be regulated by the valve j?, and I have here represented a setscrew, j, as inserted transversely into the port t', (shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 7,)

and capable of adjustment to more or less close the said port and so throttle the water in its passage through said port.

I will now describe the means here repre sented l'or shifting the auxiliary valve H, both independently through the devices controlled by the elevator-operator inthe car or cab,and automatically from the moving main valveD and controllingpistons.

I designates a roclcshaft supported in a bearing, lc, near the end of the casing, and provided at opposite ends with arms or levers I', extending upward and connected at their upper ends by a rod or bolt, l, and a sleeve or thimble, l', placed between them to hold them at the required distance apart. Vith the rod or bolt Z are connected the devices whereby the valve is to be controlled from the ear or cab. These devices may Ibe of any suitable character, but I prefer to employ devices of the kind shown and described in my application for Letters Patent tiled November 4,1884, and the serial number of which is 147,164. I have here represented only a part ot' such devices.

J designates a vertical shaft or rod, here shown as square, and extending from top to bottom of the elevator-shaft. Upon the car or cabis a sleeve which slides freely over the rodJ as the car rises and' falls, but which may be turned at any point in the lift by the operator, and which being turned transmits the turning to the square or other rod or shaft J. Qn the lower end of the shaft or rod ,l is an eccentric, J', the strap or hoop J2 of which is connected by a rod, Ji,with the upper ends ot' the levers I, and serves to shift thennas shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l. The valve-rod H slides through and is guided by a bearing, m, and at its outer end it has connected with ita lever, It, which may consist of two pieces,

controlling-piston E toward the right will exas shown in Fie. 5, or of asingle forked piece7 IOO IIO

Vrod. I. The lever I2 is connected between its ends with the levers or arms I', between the ends of the latter, by rods or links I, connected byvpivots or pins m with the levers or arms I', and by a pivot-pin or bolt. m2, with the lever I2. The arrangement and manner of connecting these several levers and rods are best seen in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. During the al1- tomatic operation of the auxiliary valve H the pin or pivotm'2 forms the fulcrum on which the lever l2 rocks, and whereby it is caused to` move the valve-rod H and auxiliary valve H always in a reverse direction to the movement of the main valve and controlling-pistons. When, however. the auxiliary valve is operated independently through the levers I', the point of connection it between the lower end of the lever l2 and the link or rod I3 becomes the fulcrum on which the whole s). stem of levers and rods are moved to shift the valve H directly in one direction or the other.

In order to limit the movementof the auxiliary valve H when shifted independently,

I provide a shoulder, o. and nuts 0 on the rod H at opposite ends of the bearing m. and the said shoulder and nuts form stops to limit the movement of the valve and rod H H.

The operation of the apparatus is very simle. 1

In the drawings, Figs. l and 4, the parts are all represented as intermediatebetween vtheir two extreme positions, and the main valve D covers the port f. Suppose, for example, that it isdesired to raise the elevator car or cab, the operator turns the rod J, and by shifting the levers l from the position shown in Fig. l to the position 'indicated by the dotted line sin said ligure. he shifts the auxiliary valve H to the position shown in Fie. y

2, thereby placing the portst'iin direct communication with each other, and providing for the free escape of water from the left-hand side of the larger controllingpiston E, through the portsand passages t' ILM', tothe discharge-space A5; hence the controlling-piston E is entirely freed from pressure, and the main valve D and controlling-pistons are moved toward the left by the unbalanced pressure on the right hand of the main valve D due to the excess in area of the said valve over the area of the 3 i automatically toward the right, and has cut the main valve thereupon stops.

off communication between the ports i il', and Starting again with the main valve in position shown in Fig. l, I will suppose that it is desired to allow the car or cab to descend. By turning l the rod or shaft J the operator shifts thelevers l I from the position shown by full lines in Fig.

1 to the position indicated by the dotted line s'. By so doing the auxiliary valve H is shifted I to the position shown in Fig. 3, uncovering the port t, and allowing water under pressure l to pass from the chest B down through the port i and into the larger controlling-cylinder B on the outer or left-hand side of the piston E therein. The pressure on the piston E to,- ward the right is exactly counterbalanced by the pressure on. the main-valve D toward the left, (if the piston and main valve are of the same size,) and hence the main valve and pistons are moved toward the right by the pressure on the smaller controlliiig-piston F, the portfis placed in communication with the discharge-space A5 through the port or openings g, and the water is allowed to pass from g tothe discharge-space A5. As the main valve and pistons are moved toward the `vright hand, the auxiliary valve s moved automatically totoward the left hand and has closed the port i when the main valve D has placed the ports fandg in communication.

' When it is desired to have the main valve come to a neutral posit-ion yto stop the elevatorcar, the levers I are moved to the positions shown by full linesin Fig. l. When it is desired to ascend at full speed, the levers ['-are brought to the positions indicated by the dotted line s, Fig. l, and the auxiliary valve H thereby shifted to the position shown in Fig. 2; and when it is desired to descend at full .spoed the levers I are shifted to the positions indicated by the dotted line s in Fig. l, and the auxiliary valve H thereby shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3. If it is desired to have thesame pressure applied to move the valveD in opening and closing, and the cylinders A B are of the same size, I make the smaller controlling cylinder and piston C F just hall' the area of the main-valve cylinder and valve A D.

uum in the discharge-space or belt A5, I may apply thereto an inwardly-opening air-check valve, K, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a main-valve cylinder, with its working port and the larger and smaller controlling-cylinders on opposite sides thereof, the supply-passage between the valve-cylinder and smaller controlling-cylinder, andthe discharge-passage between the smaller controlling cylinder and thefvalvccylinder and the larger controlling-cylinder, ofthe main valve and controlling pistons titting said cylinders and an auxiliary valve for controlling the passage of water under pressure to the outer end of the larger controlling- In order to prevent the formation of a vacthe operatingcylinder through the portsf and` ICO cylinder and its exhaust therefrom, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with the casing comprising the Valve-cylinder and controllingcylinders A B O, and the supply, working, and discharge belts and ports A Aif A g, of the main Valve D and larger and smaller controllingpistons E F on opposite sides thereof, and an auxiliary valve for controlling the supply of Water to and the exhaust of water from the outer end of the controlling' cylinder substantially as herein described.

3. The combination, with the casing coniprising the valve-cylinder and its port, the larger and smaller controllingfeylinders on opposite sides thereof, the intermediate supply and discharge spaces, and the ports 't Cof the main valve and larger and smaller controlling-pistons fitting said cylinders, an anxiliary valve-chest and au auxiliary valve for controlling the said ports z' i', and a pipe or passage for supplying fluid under pressure to the auxiliary valve-chest, substantially as herein described.

4. The combination, with the casing coni- ,prising the Valve-cylinder with its port, the

larger and smaller controlling-cylinders, the

intermediate supply and discharge sijnices, `A

A", the ports t i', and tho chest l5,ol` the main valve and controlling-pistons, the auxiliary valve controlling the ports it', and a pipe or passage for conducting water under pressure from the said supply-space to the valve-chest B, all substantially as herein described.

5. The combination, with the casing comprising the valve-cylinder A,.tl1e controllingcylinders B C, the intermediate supply and discharge spaces,the portsz' i', and'the passage j', ofthe main valves and controlling-pistons D E F, the valve-chest B', the auxiliary valve H, and a pipe or passage, j, leading from the supply-space to the cavity or passagej, l'oradmitting water under pressure to the valve-chest B', substantially as herein described.

6.' The combination, with a main-valve cylinder with its working-port and the large and Asmal ler congollinglcyl i nders on oppositepsides thereof, the suppl yf-passage between the snialler controlliiig-cylinderand the valvecyhndcr, and the discharge-passage between the larger controlling-cylinder and the valve-cylinder, oi" the main valve and controllingpistons tting said cylinders, an auxiliary valve for conits cylinder and controlling pistons and cylinders on opposite sides thereof', as described, of au auxiliary valve for controlling the supply of water to audits exhaust from the outer end of the larger controlling cylinder, a lever through which said auxiliary valve is operated automatically by the moving main valve and controlling pistons and `which is fulcrunied between its ends, and connections through which the fulcruni of said lever and the auxiliary valve may be shifted by the operulor independently ol' theI uumnuttic Inoveiuout oi' the valve, suhstantially as herein described.

S. The combination, with a iuaiu valve and cylinder and aeontrolling piston and cylinder connected therewith, and un auxiliary valve for controlling the admission of Water to and its exhaust from the coutrolling-cylinder, of thelever l2 and rod li,counccting the auxiliary valve-stein and the pistoirrod, the roelcshaft l and levers l', the rods or links l". connecting the levers I' and i2, and connections whereby the levers l and parts connected therewith may be shifted by the operator, substantially as herein described.

GEO.'H. REYNOLDS.

iVitnesses: g

Finnlo i-liruns, 'liliui r.. Se i i. WA u'rz.

It is hereby certi-lied that in Letters Patent No. 314,720, granted Ma upon the application of George H. Reynolds, or" New York, New York, fol ment in Valves for Hydraulic Elevators, &.e., a-u error appears in the y liet-ion requiring Correction, as follows: In line 127 lpage 4, the words trolling-cylinder and the should he stricken out; and that the proper cl been made in the records pertaining to the ease in the Patent Office, ai reu-cl 'in said Letters Patent to n'mke the same conform thereto.

Signed, eountersigued, and sealed this 7th-day of April, A. D. 1885.

[SEAL] H. 'L MULD Acting Secretary 0j Countersigned:

M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents. 

